Chapter 40: TOO DEFENSIVE
ME?
Jealous of Lee Heeju?
Hah!
Wonyoung felt offended by Yun Dujun’s ’accusation.’ "Sunbae-nim, I don’t want to talk about our personal relationship in front of the kids. But let me clear one thing: I’m not jealous of Lee Heeju-ssi. I have no reason to be jealous of him. And I don’t care what kind of relationship you two have, okay?"
"Calm down, Hoobae-nim," Yun Dujun said in his usual calm and collected tone. "My question was answerable by ’yes’ or ’no,’ so you didn’t have to defend your answer as if you were defending your thesis."
Oh.
Wonyoung felt his cheeks burn with embarrassment.
This sunbae-nim...!
"Appa, let’s just eat," An Baekya said while placing a prawn tempura on Wonyoung’s plate. "Less talk, less mistake."
Wonyoung looked at An Baekya in disbelief, feeling a little betrayed.
But An Baekya just avoided his gaze.
On the other hand, Yun Dujun looked at An Baekya as if he were impressed. "An Baekya is smart, huh?"
An Baekya bowed his head politely. "Thank you, Abeoji."
"I-I’m smart, too, Daddy," Yun Yuhyun insisted, obviously feeling competitive towards An Baekya. "And I’m taller than An Baekya!"
Pfft.
What does your height have to do with it, boy?
Wonyoung’s irritation melted instantly, finding Yun Yuhyun’s nonsense cute.
"Ah, yes. You’re taller than An Baekya, indeed," Yun Dujun said while gently patting his son’s head. "Eat more if you want to grow as tall as I am, Yuhyun-ah."
And, just like that, Yun Yuhyun’s face beamed. "Yes, Daddy!"
Aigoo.
Wonyoung couldn’t help but think that his biological son was a little gullible.
Or maybe Dujun Sunbae-nim is just kinda... manipulative?
***
WONYOUNG only realized that he had fallen asleep when his head hit Yun Dujun’s shoulder.
He immediately straightened in his seat and bowed his head lightly.
"Sorry, Sunbae-nim."
Wonyoung got sleepy after getting full from their scrumptious lunch earlier.
The kids, too.
An Baekya and Yun Yuhyun both had fallen asleep in the backseat of the car.
"It’s alright," Yun Dujun said nonchalantly. "You look tired, Hoobae-nim. Why don’t we head back to the hotel? You can say goodbye to An Baekya’s theatre group tomorrow."
"An Baekya said the theatre group is holding an audition tomorrow, so An Baekya wants to say his farewell today," Wonyoung said, lightly stretching his arms. "Plus, I want to get this over and done with the soonest, so An Baekya and I can play together later."
"Play? How?"
"Since we’re in Busan, I’m thinking of visiting Haeundae Beach."
The beautiful beach was just right across their hotel, so it should be doable.
"What about me and Yun Yuhyun?"
"What do you mean by that, Sunbae-nim?"
"Are you not going to invite us to join you on your little beach trip?"
"Aren’t you coming back to Seoul tonight?"
"No, we’re not," Yun Dujun said bluntly. "I booked all the remaining penthouse suites on your floor."
Ah, right.
The hotel had four penthouse suites on the top floor.
"Why would you book them all, Sunbae-nim?" Wonyoung complained lightly. "What a waste of money."
"No, it’s not a waste," Yun Dujun said while shaking his head. "I get to be close to Hoobae-nim, after all."
AHEM.
That smooth line may or may not have made Wonyoung’s heart skip a beat.
Is this why Lee Heeju couldn’t let go of Sunbae-nim?
***
AH, the smell of a theatre stage.
Well, it didn’t really smell nice.
Wonyoung was just feeling nostalgic.
After all, he used to be in the same theatre club as Yun Dujun.
Sunbae-nim and I starred in a few plays together.
The stage that Park Chanho Theatre Group used was as big as the stage in Wonyoung’s college theatre club.
Ah, yes.
The theatre group that An Baekya had joined was called the Park Chanho Theatre Group, named after its founder.
Wonyoung recognized the middle-aged man.
Park Chanho-ssi is a veteran actor, but he never really gained the fame that’s equal to his talent. Having said that, he’s still known for appearing in several dramas as either a supporting cast member or a cameo.
The veteran actor had Wonyoung’s respect as a fellow actor.
I like versatile actors like Park Chanho-ssi.
"Bae Wonyoung-ssi, isn’t it?"
Wonyoung smiled and bowed politely to the veteran actor. "Hello, Sunbae-nim. Yes, my name is Bae Wonyoung."
"’Sunbae-nim?’"
"I’m also a theatre actor, sir. Though I had to take a break because of an accident."
Park Chanho’s face beamed. "I see. May I know which theatre group you’re from?"
"I used to be a part of Yonhee University’s theatre club, sir."
"You’re an elite, then."
"Not at all, sir."
"They don’t accept just anyone at Yonhee University’s theatre club," Park Chanho said encouragingly. "Your theatre club produced several top stars, the latest one being Actor Yun Dujun-ssi. You know him, right?"
"Yes, sir. I had the honor of working with Dujun Sunbae-nim during his university days."
Park Chanho laughed cheerfully.
He must be a fan of Dujun Sunbae-nim.
"I’m glad that our Baekya’s foster parent is someone who loves the stage, too."
Ah.
That’s why Park Chanho-ssi is happy.
No, it was more like the veteran actor was relieved.
He really cares about An Baekya.
"I’m sad that our Baekya is leaving the group," Park Chanho said, his gaze now focused on An Baekya. "You may not believe me, but our Baekya is an acting genius."
Wonyoung followed the veteran actor’s gaze and found An Baekya exchanging lines with actors at least ten years older than him.
It was something similar to a table reading.
I think that’s their way of saying goodbye to each other— practicing together one last time.
An Baekya’s clear and loud voice that echoed in the hall was full of emotions appropriate to the line that he was reading.
That’s a genius ’child’ actor for you.
"I wanted to see more of Actor Baekya."
"Sunbae-nim, An Baekya won’t quit acting. He’s just going to move to Seoul with me, but I promise you that he won’t stop chasing his dream."
Park Chanho turned to Wonyoung with a surprise look on his face. "You’re going to support our Baekya’s dream of becoming an actor?"
"Yes, sir. I want to nurture An Baekya’s talent, but I know I can’t do it alone," Wonyoung said, smiling at the director as he extended his hand to him. "We will surely ask for your help and guidance from time to time. Can we do that, Sunbae-nim?"
"Of course, you can. It takes a village to raise a child— especially an acting genius like our Baekya," Park Chanho said, grabbing and shaking Wonyoung’s hand firmly. "Let’s see each other often, Wonyoung-ssi."
***
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